A discussion on words that rhyme with "orange" (the surname Gorringe) turns hilarious when Stephen Fry reveals he had a tailor for his prep school uniform. Taken from QI B episode 1 - Blue
@Matt S I completely and utterly agree. Stephen sure can be very funny and entertaining but he comes across or maybe is an absolutey arrogant, condescending asshole.
I think he's well aware of the posh or upper class aspects of his personality and on some level (maybe subconsciously) plays up to it knowing it provides the others with good comedy material. Let's not forget that Stephen Fry is also a comedian and he knows what's funny. It is darn funny 😂
One of the best things on this show. 3 working class blokes taking the piss out of a posh toff. It’s even better that Stephen realises his mistake straight away and can be heard muttering “oh why did I….” But then the onslaught continues. Stephen keeps trying to press on with the next segment but these lot are like a pack of lions with a wounded zebra.
Most people seem to think Phill's best for it but Sean comes out with some absolute belters. "Mellors, winch me up!" and "Tarquin, I've got one!" spring to mind.
Ironically Fry isn't as 'posh' as he can appear.He certainly wasn't raised in salubrious circumstances.And his school years were less than successful.But all that matters not a jot,he's just a delight.
I just love how much of a good sport Stephen is when getting messed with by the various guests teasing him for being so "proper"... and Phil Jupitus has got to have at least the close-second for best "mess with Stephen" record.
Not being a native speaker, I had to do an extensive google search to get it, and now that I understand it, both this and the "toilet-wall" remark leave me baffled at the intelligence of this multi-layered joke.
Which is why when I imagine Willikins (from Sir Samuel Vimes' butler in Discworld) "smooth as silk, fat as butter and with a past that shows whenever he carves the turkey" I always get Fry's face. It is immaterial how posh he really is, he looks the part so much that you might as well have his picture in the dictionary entry for "posh" ^_^
I wore hand-me-downs and thrift store clothes. Still scored top of the class and tested "gifted." Money didn't make him smart but it did give him a nice head start.
@SleepyChocolateNinja It would be a pretty stupid career move, wouldn't it? You just gotta adore the guy and the fact that he's out and gay and it's no particular issue for his public makes me love him even more.
Cripes,lol,that reference went way over my head I fear.I have no knowledge of this Discworld of which you speak...unless you refer to Terry Pratchett's Discworld &,again,I have no knowledge of that.I'll bow to your superior knowledge. :-)
"I shall measure up young sir" gets me every time but I'm still struggling to understand whan Alan Davies says at the very end "I say, we're rather like this ???" :)
@issyvoo2 It's a British custom, even amongst liberal types, to joke about people who went to posh public schools (bearing in mind their gender segregation policies) in a borderline-homophobic manner. And to be fair, Stephen himself does his share of it.
@issyvoo2 Sometimes there is the odd comment or joke, but it's obvious that its very light hearted and jokey with no offence intended. To be perfectly honest, I doubt that many of the people who appear on the show would be willing to risk their careers saying something like that to Stephen.
I think you need to read the definition of "salubrious". I would describe the vast majority of Britons today as living in relatively salubrious circumstances, with Fry's upbringing being more so than most.
@NormanAngle Do they tease him for being gay? I haven't noticed that. I hope not. That would bother me. They all sometimes make sexual jokes, including him. Some are gay and some are straight.
